Not particularly impressed by the pick. It's a nice safe pick. I understand the Outsider/Insider argument but don't think Biden adds much to Obama's electability. He's from the same Ivory Tower/Intellectual elitist school as Obama.

Before I get flamed: Nothing wrong with being intelligent or well-educated, I am just suggesting that this does nothing to enlarge his base and only emphasizes the very traits that alienated him within his own party. In fact, by picking such an obvious insider it can't help but detract from his primary message.

In general not a big fan of Biden, but that's just b/c I disagree with his politics.

Not particularly impressed by the pick. It's a nice safe pick. I understand the Outsider/Insider argument but don't think Biden adds much to Obama's electability. He's from the same Ivory Tower/Intellectual elitist school as Obama.

Before I get flamed: Nothing wrong with being intelligent or well-educated, I am just suggesting that this does nothing to enlarge his base and only emphasizes the very traits that alienated him within his own party. In fact, by picking such an obvious insider it can't help but detract from his primary message.

In general not a big fan of Biden, but that's just b/c I disagree with his politics.

Not particularly impressed by the pick. It's a nice safe pick. I understand the Outsider/Insider argument but don't think Biden adds much to Obama's electability. He's from the same Ivory Tower/Intellectual elitist school as Obama.

Before I get flamed: Nothing wrong with being intelligent or well-educated, I am just suggesting that this does nothing to enlarge his base and only emphasizes the very traits that alienated him within his own party. In fact, by picking such an obvious insider it can't help but detract from his primary message.

In general not a big fan of Biden, but that's just b/c I disagree with his politics.

I thought I heard that this choice may help Obama in blue-collar states/towns due to the fact Biden grew up and has ties to Scranton PA and supports blue-collar issues?

I think this pick can go either way. Either really good or really bad. I doubt seriously he is going to end up being a below the radar forgotten candidate.

The question is though, does this represent a bit of a shift in BO's approach? The "hope/change" campaign was starting to stall out a little bit as people actually started to wonder if this guy with an intersting message but dubious qualifications could actually do the job. I think we may see a more directed approach and less of the vague "hope/change" message that ahs gotten him to this point. If that is the case then I am very impressed with his abilities to read the political winds and capitilize. If he goes about spouting about change and so forth with any great effort then he'll end up looking like a dope...the "change" guy who nominated an old crusty white guy who is essentially the democrat version of the guy he is running aganist. The same guy who represents the same old same old....but only if he's a Republican. Otherwise old crusty white guys are OK.

I like the pick. Regardless of whom Obama would have chosen, there would have been risk, some downside, and critism. Had it been Hilary, it would have been you can't trust her. Had it been Kaine, it would have been too much inexperience on one ticket. And so on.

Some argue his message of change has been undercut by picking Biden, but Obama is running for President not Joe Biden. And at the end of the day, people make there voting decisions based on whose on top of the ticket, not the bottom.

If anything, this gives Obama some foreign policy coverage between now and November if or when another international conflict arises. In other words, Joe Biden provides a layer of comfort for those voters who are either a tad leary of Obama's experience or still don't know him.

he still makes quite a bit of speech errors, about 3-5 that I noticed yesterday. No way it's as bad as Bush, but I kinda see it as a weakness, especially due to the fact he is kinda old. One time he was referring to the current administration and he said Bush-McCain instead of Cheney.

he still makes quite a bit of speech errors, about 3-5 that I noticed yesterday. No way it's as bad as Bush, but I kinda see it as a weakness, especially due to the fact he is kinda old. One time he was referring to the current administration and he said Bush-McCain instead of Cheney.

I think it was because he said something to the effect of "we are sick and tired of the last 8 years of Bush-McCain". That's just what I thought I heard, definitely could be wrong.

It's not, they want to impregnate voter's minds with the notion that Bush and McCain are one in the same. That McCain is as much part of the Bush administration as Dick...4 more years of Bush...Bush's third term.

Not particularly impressed by the pick. It's a nice safe pick. I understand the Outsider/Insider argument but don't think Biden adds much to Obama's electability. He's from the same IvoryTower/Intellectual elitist school as Obama.

Before I get flamed: Nothing wrong with being intelligent or well-educated, I am just suggesting that this does nothing to enlarge his base and only emphasizes the very traits that alienated him within his own party. In fact, by picking such an obvious insider it can't help but detract from his primary message.

In general not a big fan of Biden, but that's just b/c I disagree with his politics.

i don't think this is true, but it makes me chuckle. if im picking a doctor, or lawyer, don't i want the best? if im looking for anyone in elected office, don't i want the best? isn't that what the term "elite" means? why wouldn't i want the "best" in the president? or since this administration, have we lowered our standards so much, that just any old person will due?

__________________ "It's better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt."
courtesy of 53fan

a good safe pick for obama...foreign policy experience is something he really lacks and biden gives him that to some extent. Mccain is really going to have to really pick a good running mate. Here's food for thought....not to sound like a racist or a feminist...but if i am mccain i approach condoleeza rice to be my running mate. you gotta shake things up once in a while and naming rice as his running mate would shock the world.